Related Experiment Videos
Asking neutral versus leading questions: implications for functional limitation measurement
Vicki A Freedman1, Hakan Aykan, Morton H Kleban
1Polisher Research Institute, Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life, North Wales, PA, USA. vfreedman@abramsoncenter.org
Journal of Aging and Health
|November 5, 2003
Summary
Leading questions in surveys of older adults yield higher functional limitation estimates than neutral questions. However, both methods offer similar validity and reliability, with degree-of-difficulty items performing best.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Survey Methodology
- Public Health
Background:
- National surveys frequently assess functional limitations in older Americans.
- Two common question formats are the leading approach ("how much difficulty...") and the neutral approach ("do you have any difficulty...").
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of functional limitation scales based on leading versus neutral question approaches.
- To compare the validity, reliability, and efficiency of different survey item formats for assessing functional limitations in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 595 participants in the 1994 Health and Retirement Study.
- Comparison of prevalence estimates, missing data, face validity, reliability, predictive validity, convergent validity, and robustness of odds ratios between leading and neutral question approaches.
Main Results:
- Leading questions resulted in higher estimates of functional limitations compared to neutral questions.
- Both approaches produced scales with comparable validity and reliability.
- Scales incorporating the degree of difficulty demonstrated superior validity and reliability over those based on task counts.
- All four tested approaches showed similar coefficients in predicting disability onset.
Conclusions:
- Items capturing the degree of difficulty, such as "How much difficulty do you have...", are recommended for survey designers.
- This approach optimizes survey time without compromising the validity and reliability of functional limitation assessments in older populations.